Ramban: At least 36 pilgrims en route to the Amarnath shrine sustained injuries on Saturday morning after a bus in their convoy collided with four stationary buses in the Chanderkote area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district.
The incident occurred around breakfast time when the convoy of Amarnath yatris had made a scheduled halt at Chanderkote. According to officials, one of the buses, unable to stop in time, rammed into the buses parked ahead of it, resulting in a chain collision that left several passengers injured.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban, Kulbir Singh, confirmed the incident and stated that the bus failed to apply brakes in time, causing it to crash into the other parked vehicles. “The convoy had halted for breakfast when the accident happened. One bus hit the stationary ones from behind, which led to a pile-up,” SSP Singh said.
Medical teams rushed to the site promptly, and the injured were provided with immediate medical assistance. Most of the injuries were reported to be minor, and the majority of the pilgrims opted to continue their spiritual journey after receiving first aid.
However, SSP Singh added that a few of the injured—estimated to be three to four individuals—might not be in a condition to resume the yatra due to the severity of their injuries. They have been shifted to nearby healthcare facilities for further treatment.
The annual Amarnath Yatra, which sees thousands of devotees travel through challenging mountain routes to reach the revered cave shrine, is under tight security and administrative arrangements. Despite strict protocols for vehicular movement in the convoy, the incident has raised concerns about adherence to safety norms, especially during halts.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the mishap and whether negligence or technical failure contributed to the crash. Meanwhile, traffic movement along the route was briefly disrupted but was restored after the damaged vehicles were moved from the road.
The administration reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of pilgrims and assured that necessary steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. The yatra continues to draw devotees from across the country, despite the occasional challenges posed by terrain and weather.
